Sponsored by the

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Introduction to the Library Support Staff
Certification Program

• Sponsored by the
• American Library Association
• and the ALA-Allied Professional Association
• Funded by IMLS

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Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSC)
Lorelle Swader Karen Strege
Nancy Bolt Ian Lashbrook
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Webinar Tips

• Audio Problems?
• Hang up and dial back in (telephone) or check
  your microphone and speaker devices (VoIP).
• Call 800 263 6317
• Recording http//ala-apa.org/lssc/

lssc_at_ala.org
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Todays Agenda

• Who are Library Support Staff (LSS)?
• Why does LSSC matter?
• Enrollment and requirements
• Assessment of work
• New projects on the horizon

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Library Support Staff Certification
Program (LSSC)A New Career Path for LSS

• A national, voluntary ALA- sponsored,
  certification program for library support staff.

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Issues

• Numbers and Titles
• Value to the Library
• Changing Roles
• Respect
• Education, Training and Support
• Self-motivation!

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How Many LSS?

• 163,913 staff members in academic and public
  libraries
• 69 are LSS

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Whats in a Name?

• Paraprofessional
• Para-Pro
• Library assistant
• Circulation assistant
• Library Aide
• Library technical assistant
• Media aide
• Library media assistant
• Library technician

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Why Certification?

• 4 top reasons
• Recognition
• Learn new things
• Provide better service
• Contribute to library improvement

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Not a Job but a Career!
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I want recognition that my job is important,
that my work is valued, that I am valued as a
human being. This is more important than money.
I want to be trusted that I will do what Im paid
for. I need pride in myself and my
job. Suzanne Mahmoodi and Kathleen Weibel,
Paraprofessionals What Are They Doing? What Are
the Trends? How Do They Get to A Desired Future
A Report of Focus Groups (unpublished, 1991).
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The Value of LSSC

• Earns you the respect you deserve
• Allows you to demonstrate your value
• Gives you an edge on a job or promotion
• Increased flexibility as a library worker
• Increases your self-confidence
• Portable to other states
• Proof of achievement
• Library users are better served

I have moved from part-time position to
full-time, and better serve patrons with
knowledge gained as well as making myself a
better co-worker with the responsibilities given
to me based on my skills and knowledge - LSSC
candidate survey response, Feb 2012
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Current Candidates

• 375 Candidates (335 active, 40 graduates)
• 46 States Represented

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Role Definition - Competencies

• MLS (BIG PICTURE)
• Theory and philosophy
• Research and evaluation
• Policy development
• Strategic planning
• Service development
• All required
• Only accessible via library school

• LSS (MORE FOCUS)
• Practical
• Operational
• Need to know
• Able to do
• 10 competency sets
• 3 required
• 3 elective
• Available through approved courses and
  independent learning

I am not interested in putting the effort and
time into an MLS. Support Staff is what I've
always enjoyed and the LSSC will make me a better
employee as well as give me better job prospects
should our library continue to be downsized
LSSC candidate survey, Feb 2012
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LSSC Nuts and Bolts
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Eligibility

• High school diploma or a GED
• One year library experience, paid or unpaid
• 1820 hours collectively (over five years)

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Enrollment

• Apply at http//ala-apa.org/lssc/
• Cost 350 (325 if ALA member)

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Certification Requirement

• Demonstrate achievement of six competency sets by
  . . .
• Completing approved courses
• and/or submit portfolios
• within four years

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LSSC Competency Sets

• Electives
• Access Services
• Adult Readers Advisory
• Cataloging and Classification
• Collections
• Reference and Information Services
• Supervision and Management
• Youth Services

• Required
• Foundations of Library Service
• Technology
• Communication and Teamwork

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Competency Example Collections

1. Library Support Staff know how to use integrated
   library systems, other appropriate online tools,
   and data to manage collections.
2. LSS know the basic principles of collection
   development and management.
3. LSS assist with decisions regarding selection,
   de-selection, retention, and replacement of all
   types of library resources.

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Competency Achievement Options

• Approved Courses
• No experience or education?
• No interest in self-directed learning?
• Additional costs.
• Portfolios
• Significant experience or education?
• Prefer independent learning?
• No additional costs.

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LSSC-Approved Courses

• Meet LSSC requirements
• Providers set costs, NOT LSSC
• Online In-person or Combination
• Course fees average 400
• Range from 75 - 1,200

A course has helped me to understand the
different functions of the library. This
understanding has allowed me to be more aware of
the information I need to provide when having
discussions with members of other departments.
LSSC candidate survey, Feb 2012
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LSSC Course Providers

• Community Colleges Universities
• Consultants
• Library Service Network (Amigos)
• State Libraries

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Portfolios

• A selective collection of work that
  demonstrates knowledge and skills in a competency
  set
• Equivalent to course work
• Document knowledge skills
• Use own work or answer a PDS

I have recently experienced conflict with a
coworker the conflict resolution portfolio that
I completed helped me with a successful
resolution with this coworker LSSC candidate
survey, Feb 2012
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Portfolio Development Suggestions

• An activity or assignment for each competency
• 2 to 4 PDS per competency
• Complete one PDS per competency
• Indicate if you used a PDS

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Sample PDS

• Competency LSS know the basic principles of
  collection development and management.
• 2.1 Prepare a bibliography with brief notations
  of five articles that identify basic principles
  and trends in collections. Your notations should
  be both descriptive and evaluative. Write a
  one-page essay about one new direction or trend
  in collections.
• 2.2 Collect sample collection policies from
  three libraries of varying type and size. Compare
  and contrast these policies. Which ones do you
  think are best and why?
• 2.3 Schedule an interview and observation
  appointment with a librarian in a collection
  department. At the conclusion of your observation
  and interview, summarize what you consider are
  the five most important principles associated
  with collection work. Ask the librarian you
  observed to review and comment on your work.
  Respond to the comments on your ideas, describing
  how the librarians opinion did or did not change
  your own thinking.

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Portfolio Evaluation

• Two evaluators read
• Met (Hooray!)
• Partially Met (Provide more info)
• Not Met (Suggest a course.)

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Library Managers can help!

• Recognition
• Help with registration fee
• Help with course fees
• Time off

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More Support Ideas

• Help with assignments
• Inform higher-ups
• Recognize accomplishments
• Add responsibility as skills and knowledge
  increase

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LTA Recognition Agreements
Agreements with Waubonsee CC, IL Ivy Tech
College, IN Palomar College, CA College of
DuPage, IL Illinois Central College Highline CC,
WA Pasadena City College, CA Pomona City College,
CA Central Carolina Technical College,
SC Belmont College, OH Three Rivers Community
College, CT Dona Ana Community College, NM City
College of San Francisco

• In Process
• Bluegrass Community Technical College, KY
• Northampton Community College, PA
• Cuesta College, CA
• Fresno City College, CA
• Georgia Perimeter College
• Pueblo Community College, CO
• College of Lake County, IL
• Spokane Falls Community College, WA

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Next Steps Evaluation

• Does LSSC make a difference in user services,
• in individuals, in libraries?

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What our candidates have to say

• A survey of our candidates in February 2012
  yielded some very good feedback on the LSSC
  program
• 80 of the respondents named specific ways in
  which participation in the LSSC Program improved
  their abilities.
• Moral support from managers/employers was highly
  valued
• Many of the libraries in which the candidates
  currently work have been providing financial
  assistance as well as time away from work duties
  to work on LSSC materials and coursework.

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WHY LSS Certification?

• My work toward certification helped me to
  compare and contrast the principles of our
  profession with the realities I've observed in
  over 15 years of library work. Many of my
  professional perceptions were confirmed which
  made me more confident in my skills and knowledge
  of the field. Some of my professional
  perceptions were challenged allowing me to think
  about my opinions and responsibilities in a new
  light. LSSC candidate survey, Feb 2012

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Questions?
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More Information

• Website http//ala-apa.org/lssc
• Program e-mail lssc_at_ala.org
• Karen Strege kstrege_at_msn.com
• Nancy Bolt nancybolt_at_earthlink.net
• Ian Lashbrook ilashbrook_at_ala.org

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